News

School board to consider new elementary schools tonight

Two schools may be necessary, according to demographers report

by
Glenn Wohltmann / Pleasanton Weekly

The Pleasanton School Board will once again look at possible new elementary school sites at its meeting tonight.

The board will review seven alternatives that could put a new school in northwest Pleasanton to alleviate crowding at schools there, at a potential new site in the east side to coincide with growth predicted there as part of new construction, at property already owned by the district, known as the Neal site, or at district offices.

The district's goal is for each elementary school to have between 600 and 700 students, but -- Donlon, Fairlands, Walnut Grove and Valley View elementaries are already above 700 students while others, such as Vintage Hills, are well below that goal.

The demographers report suggests that the district may need to build two schools to prepare for growth.

In other actions at its meeting tonight, the board will also consider whether to make permanent some of the one-time restorations of positions that were cut during lean budget years. Those include counselors, math and English coaches, librarians, custodians and vice principals.

The board will also consider three scenarios that would cut student-teacher ratios to 24-1 by 2021, a goal set by the state.

It will also take public comment on a new round of bargaining with the California School Employee Association as the union and district reopen negotiations on modifications to the contract approved last year.

The teachers union and district also plan to begin negotiations on revisions to that union's contract, also approved last year. Among the items up for discussion are class sizes, hours, salaries and the school calendar.

The board is also expected to approve, as part of its consent calandar, spending $21,000 to hire a grant writing firm for six months.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. tonight at the district's boardroom, 4665 Bernal Ave.

Posted by Jill Buck
a resident of Del Prado
on Jan 28, 2014 at 3:03 pm

I know that deferred maintenance isn't a sexy topic, but before we build new facilities, I hope we'll consider taking better care of the ones we've got. Our once top-of-the-line infrastructure needs upkeep and energy efficiency work.

Posted by Mom
a resident of Walnut Grove Elementary School
on Jan 29, 2014 at 9:24 pm

That's great. I just hope they have a long list of principals on stand by to run the new schools given the way we burn through them. Maybe we can do a "take a number" thing so there little downtime between each principal coming and going.

Posted by frustrated
a resident of Walnut Grove Elementary School
on Jan 29, 2014 at 10:53 pm

It is so frustrating to sit by and wait to see what is happening with Jon V as well as other PUSD decisions. What does the district use as their way to publicize decisions? Ok if it's not the Pleasanton Weekly, but how does one find out what's going on ?

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